Water-tank.



Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.-

G. T. HORTON.

WATER TANK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1911.

l 1 M a I j 7 21 n7 q 0 m H z a m MU; H Q0 6 W z y 1.. I r... 1 H. 1H. r W 1. z z w m w 7 171 w m,

Lbjiflsses; \7

G. T. HORTON.

WATER TANK.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 5, 1911. v

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

110%265565: fiifiar 5 m n wu I G. T. HORTON.

- WATER TANK. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1911.

Patented Nov. 14,1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

GEORGE T. HORTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WATER-TANK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 5, 1911.

Patented Nov. 14* 1911-;

Serial No. 625,331.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, Gnoncn T. Honron, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chi-.

cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Imrovement'in Water-Tanks, of which the ibllowing is a specification.

This invention relates to water tanks and more especially to tanks which are designed to hold a large quantity of water, such as railway tanks.

In my prior United StatesLetters Patent No. 857 ,626 issued June 25, 1907, are set out tank;

some of the advantages and disadvanta es of tanks with flat bottoms and tanks with hemispherical bottoms such as have heretofore been constructed; and also a description of a tank with a hemi-ellipsoid bottom. The tank which is hereinafter described is designed to combine the advantageous features of the tank illustrated in said prior patent in that it may contain a maximum quantity of water with a minimum depth, while be ing constructed of economicalproportions; it possesses great strength and rigidity .in

roportion to the thickness of its walls; and 1t possesses the additional advantage over the hemi-ellipsoid bottom tank before mentioned in that the'form of its bottomis'uch' as to prevent mud and sediment from accumulating thereon and being washed into,

the outlet valve. Said tank is supported upon legs or columns; and its bottom is additionally supported by resting upon a large central settling basin, or mud-drum; and.

the total weight of the tank and its contents is so distributed asto remove a large part of it from the supporting columns and place it upon 'the settling basin, and the maximum strength of bottom in proportion to its thickness is secured by making said mud-drum or settling basin of large diameter at its upper end. At the same time economy in material may be effected, and other advantages secured, by making said settling basin smaller at its lower end.

A form of tank embodying the improved features of construction above outlined is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a view in elevation of said ig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section through the mud-drum, or inlet pipe, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 an enlarged detail section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. .Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the upper end of the 1? settling basin, showing a modified form of construction, and the parts differently ar-' ranged. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing such modified form of construc'- tion. Fig. 6 is avertical section on the line' v6 of. Fig. 5.

As shownin said drawin s, in Figs. 1, 2" and 3, 1 indicates the b0 y of the tank which is cylindrical in form and preferably constructed of sheet metal in the form of large rectangular plates, cylindrically curved and riveted together at their meeting margins in the manner heretofore em ployed in constructing similar tanks. A.

bottom portion 2, which is more portion:

sheet metal, plates inthe same manner as .the rest of the tank.

Supporting legs or columns 5, comprising channel bars 6 and ,7, having suitable lacings 8 connecting the same together, are provided, and these sup: porting legs are riveted at their upper ends to the sides of the tank. A recess, corre-. sponding to'the shape of the tank, is provided in'the upper end of each of the chansne bars 6 and 7, in order that the latter "may set closer to the tank and support its weight upon their centers, instead of'upon their inner edges. Suitable braces 10 are fastened at their upper ends to plates 11, secured'to the supporting legs, and at their a? lower ends to plates 12, secured. to the lower ends of the supporting legs. The lower ends of the supporting legs rest upon stone or cement blocks 13. In this manner a strong and rigid support is provided for the tank, Q

which will sustain the weight of the same when it is filled with water. A large central settling basin 15 extends from the cen tral portion of the said curved bottom 2 to a suit-able base or support .16. Said setbasin is at all times made of such size that the water contained therein will not entirely freeze up. By making this; portion of the tank'large in diameter, although the water which is nearest to its walls may freeze, there is always left a center' opening which permits water to flow intothe tank and to be withdrawn therefrom. :The' enlarged diameter of said settling basin at its upper J O part places a large proportion ofthe weight of the tank andits contents upon the base or support 16, removing it from the su ports 5, whereby the latter may be me e considerabl be practica 1c. The form of said bottom 2 is substantially as follows: 1 It is evident that, if the tank shall contain a maximum quantity of water for a minimum depth, the same mustbe large in diameter with respect to its height. It is also evident that a curved bottom which shall meet said tank i at its upper edge and rest upon a settling basln, or slm lar-central support, such as is described in my. said prior patent andshall also contain a minimum depth of water,

. must-be relatively large in diameter with respect to itsliight. A hemi-ellipsoid bottom i's so shaped, .butjit has thedisadvantage of being 'comparatively flat in itscenter portion' and allowing mud and sediment to accumulate thereon; Such. flat portion is also,

i byreason'of its shape, less strong than the other portions of the bottom. In order to overcome these disadvantages and still pre serve the advantages found in such a shaped bottom, as set out in my prior patent, I have made the upper portion of the bottom 2 substantially ellipsoidal in shape, but the I tied into the form of a cone; whereb the por-.

- curve of such ellipsoid," instead'of continu- .ing' thence downward and meeting the. settlingflbasin 15. in the center thereof, 'is continued in .a direction more steeply inclined to the horizontal, being, ashere shown, moditions of said bottom adjacent to t e'centr opening are comparatively steep. and; not allow mud and sediment to accumulate upon them. .In-o'rder also to place a large, proportion of the weight upon the center support or base 16, and to preserve the economical dimensions of the bottom 2, its

. central opening is made very large, said bottonrmeeting the settling basin 15 .in a

circle of large area; and the economical dimensions of said settllng basln 15 are preserved by making it of smaller diameter at.

' its lower'end, as above stated. A bottom 17 is adapted to rest upon the base 16; and is connected with the sides of the scttlingbasln by nicunso't the g1'1gl c-piccc 18, which iorms a water tight joint between the two sections.

' An opening formed Pin the bottom,

through which is adapted to pass the supply pipe 194:

This ;p:ipc preferably extends downwardly throug r .the cement base 16 smaller than would otherwise.

and is provided with an elbow; zu, wher'eb the same is connected Witha supply pipe; a suitable T-joint 22 being formedin pipe for the purpose ofconnectingthese The' supply extend any" the tank -the purpose of this constructio being to prevent mud. and sediment whic A second opening) '17 of the settling asin, which communicates.

. beingseated in the opening in the settling:

through a'link 25 attached to a crank 26 on the end of a horizontal shaft 27. which of said settling basin and is provided at its outer end with a hand wheel 29. A bracket Atthe upper end of the-settling basin, or in the bottom of the tank, is provided a discharge pipe 34 which enters-through an "extends. into the latter far enoug cept when it is desired to supply water to an engine. The pipe 34 communicates with a suitable hinged water spout- 36 through spout 36 is hinged at its inner end to a pair of depending bracket members in the form the circular base of thetank aboye and are braced at their lower portions'by'jmeans of .memberszlikewise afi'ord means for a rman to "reachthe top. of. the "tank for inspection and repairs. The inner end of said spout 36 1s thereto. Normally the] spout 36 is -:mainto its outer end and passing over-a pulle' upon the tank above; Said rope or cable'ls may have accumulated in the bottom ofl I settling basin irombeing di sturbedfib'y ,thej' inflow of water through .said, supply pipe. 7'.

is formed in the bottom opening in the wall of the settlin basinj'a'nd,

irto escape any possibility of the water freezing around' its inner end.' A valve35 serves to normally; maintain this pipe in'a closed position ex;

of an iron ladder 37 whichjare attached to passes through a stuffing box 28 in the walk member 30 sup )ort-s the inner end of said;

shaft in a suite. is bearing at its upper end;

with the water main or other water supply ipe 19 is of sufiicient length to d esire'd. distance up into the'setf.

tli'ng basin 15 or if desired, all the wayinwg? with a blow-off pipe 23, a suitablevalvefi basin which normally maintains the blowofi' pipe closed. Said valve is operatedfj which the Water is supplied. Said water.

horizontal braces 38 and 39 extending to the adjacentmlegs of the tank. lh'ese latter climbfupkthe latticejwork .ofon'e ofthe'legs and cross over to said ladder in order "to taincd in a positionidrawn upward n 'rd'en; .to :lfl'ord. free passage for theengines bemouth it, arope or cable 42 bc ngconnccted' lio an engine this spout may be drawn downj thence looped downward and attached to said tank at a point near-said pulley, its

looped portion being provided with a number of counter-weights 43; whereby said spout, when released, is drawn upward until of said spout is arrested without shock or :jerk. When it is desired to feed water to ward until its outer end-"1s in the desired a position with respect to the opening into the engine tank.

to the engine.

' the supply pipe being then used as a discharge pipe, well as for supplying water form of construction of the settling basin,-

The valve 35 is normally closed and I have provided suitable means for opening the same when it is desired to supply water Said valve is operated through a valve arm 50, one end of which is pivoted upon a suitable support 51 and the other end of which is connected by a rope or cable 52 passing through the tank and connected by the link 53, with one end of a bell crank lever 54, pivoted in the top 3. The other end of the bell crank lever is connected by a rope or cable 55, with a second bell crank lever 56, pivoted upon the outside of the tank. One end of the bell crank lever 56 has depending therefrom a pull rope or cable 57, which extends down within convenient reach of a person standing upon the tender of an engine. When the engine is in position to receive water from the discharge spout 36, the engineer or attendant, by pulling upon the cable 57, will 'open the valve 35 and permit the water to rush through the'discharge pipe 34 and spout 36 into the Water tank of the engine.

In the event it is desired to use a crane connection with the tank and have the crane situated some distance from the tank, the

, supply pipe 21 may be provided with anex tension60, which leads to the cranesp'o t,

to the tank. By having the supply pipe extend up some distance into the settling basin, as shown, it will be noted that when the water is drawn off, or pumped in, sediment which may have settled in the bottom of the settling basin will not be disturbed.

By the arrangement of the blow-off pipe 23, and valve 24, in the bottom of the settling basin 15, it will be seen that all mud and other sediment in the water will settle in the bottom of said settling basin, and by opening the valve 24 this mud may be readily blown out by the force of the water rushing through it; whereby it becomes unnecessary to empty the entire tank to remove the sediment, as is the case where the sediment is allowed to settle in the bottom of the tank.

. In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is shown a modified employing a separate supply pipe and outlet pipe through its bottom, where it is desired to supply a crane connection from the tank, and it is not considered desirable to supply water to the tank and withdraw it through the same pipe, because of hammering or other difiiculty. As shown in said figures, a supply pipe enters the settling basin, passing through its bottom 71, and a relatively larger outlet pipe 72 also passes through said bottom. Either or both of these pipes may rise any desired distance in the settling basin, or may lead entirely to the top of the same, in order to avoid agitation of the sediment in the bottom of the settling basin by.

the inflow and outflow of water through said pipes. They are shown provided with flanged collars, 75 and 76 respectively, surrounding their portions adjacent to the bottom 71, which collars are adapted to be secured to said bottom by bolts or otherwise; and the annular space between each pipe and its surrounding collar may be filled with lead in order to provide a water tight joint through the bottom of the settling basin. A blow-off opening, corresponding to the blOW-Olf opening shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is also provided in said bottom 71; but, as an additional modification, said blow-oft opening is shown as controlled by a rack-andpinion operated valve 80. In detail, said valve, as here shown, comprises a frame or valve stand 81 secured to the bottom of the settling basin, and a circular valve disk 82, secured to a sliding valve arm.83' guided in said frame, and adapted to seat upon a valve seat 84 which is fitted into a circular opening through the bottom of said frame. To the upper end of the valve arm 83 is secured a linleshaped member 85, provided upon its inner surface with rack teeth, 86, which engage with a pinion 87 arranged within said member and afiixed to the inner end of a horizontal shaft 88. The latter passes through'said member and is journaled in a bearing block 89, supported in a bracket member 90 which rises from the valve frame 81. Said shaft 88 passes through the wall of said settling basin, to which is secured a stuffing box 90, and its outer end is provided with a hand'wheel 91 by means of which the valve may be operated. The lower end of the valve rame 81 is made in the form of a circular plate or radial flange 92 adapted for bolting to the bottom of the settling basin. A gasket 93, of lead or other material, is interposed between said parts. Immediately below the valve opening is attached a short length of pipe 9 1, flanged at its upper end and adapted to be secured by bolts which pass through its flange and likewise the flange 92; whereby all of these parts are secured in place. Said pipe 94 may 'connect with an elbow as indicated, or be I when said 1O duct the dischailged wa ter away from the tank, as des ifi'g A discha'ig pipe 100, corresponding. to the discharge plpe 34:, is shown, but so arranged that its inner portion lies above a portion ofthe settling basin not occu ied by the pipes 70 and 72 in order to a 'ord room for the accommodation of the parts pipes 70 and 72 are carried 11pward to the eight of said discharge pipe-100. A manh0lev105, with a removablevcover 106, is also shown at the foot of the settling basin, whereby access may be had to its interior. v

I claimas my invention; 1. The combination with a water tank, of

1 a bottom'therefor, ellipsoidal in its upper portion and steeply inclined in its lower portion, and a tapering settling basin 'for' sa1d tank, sa1d settling basin also serving as asupportfor said bottom;

2. he" combination with a .water tank,

having a bottom ellipsoidal itsupper portion and steeply inclined in its lower portion,

of suitable supports for said tank, and a tapering settling basin entering thgbottom of said tank and also serving as a support for said tank.

3. The combination with a wa ter tank, of a bottom therefor ellipsoidal in. its upper port-ion and having-a large central opening, the marginal portions thereof adjacent to said opening beinginclined at a large angle to the horizontal; and a tapering settling basin enterin said bottom'and also serving as a support or said bottom and said tank.

In wltness' whereof,'I' have hereunto set my hand in the. presence of two witnesses,

this 29th day of April, 1911.

' GEORGE T. HORTON.

Witnesses: I

C. S. PHLSBU'KY,

v F. 0. AMES; 

